Luke Humphries, the current world number two, has paid tribute to James Wade's incredible longevity, stating that Wade "will go down as one of the greatest players that's ever thrown a dart." Humphries, who recently won Players Championship 1, cited Wade's 20-year career consistently in the top 16 as a source of inspiration for his own ambitions. He emphasized that longevity is key to legacy, adding, "I don't think me leaving the sport with what I've got now would be enough, I have to win more and I think I will win a lot more." Humphries aims to stay at the top for the next 15 years to cement his status among the best.
Humphries also draws parallels with golfer Justin Rose, who won his thirteenth PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open at age 45, breaking a 72-hole record held by Tiger Woods for 27 years. He described Rose as a favorite golfer, noting similarities in their calm demeanors, such as Rose's behavior in the Ryder Cup where "it seems like it's a struggle for him to get angry." Humphries believes that calmness and discipline, combined with a focus on health and fitness, are crucial for long-term success in darts, saying, "I want to look after my health and stuff and keep myself in the best shape possible to be able to cope with these long years."
Despite many fans and analysts labeling him as an all-time top-10 player, Humphries remains modest, especially in an era where Luke Littler sets the tone. He refused to self-promote, stating, "I'm not here to sort of give myself credit. I'm not going to be glazing myself, saying how great I am." He acknowledged the challenge of cross-era comparisons, mentioning players like Eric Bristow and John Lowe, and noted the difficulty in comparing Littler and Phil Taylor. However, Humphries did not rule out aiming higher than a top-10 spot, concluding, "If you were saying I am and this other person said I am, then I'll probably say, okay, but my career isn't finished yet, so I want to see if I get to the top five."
